The US Embassy in Malta, in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce in Malta (AmCham Malta), will be organising a seminar on 22nd May at Malta Enterprise in G’Mangia, entitled ‘Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – New Opportunities for Maltese Businesses‘….read more

AmCham Malta congratulates Malta and the United States of America on completing the political processes required for the adoption of the Double Taxation Agreement. The Board of AmCham Malta believes this to be an encouraging development that will surely facilitate and encourage increased levels of trade and investment between the two nations.

There are many beneficial provisions in the Double Taxation Agreement intended to create a favorable environment for cross-border business associations. This Agreement will accomplish the strategic vision announced by both governments to encourage two-way trade and corporate investment in Malta and the United States.

The Double Taxation Agreement provides for reduced withholding rates on cross-border payments of dividends, interest, royalties, and other income, as well as the elimination of withholding taxes on cross-border dividend payments to citizen residents of Malta and the United States.

Comments Off on The Transatlantic Trade and Investor Partnership (TTIP)

This month, President Obama and European Commission President Barroso and European Council President Van Rompuy announced the embarkation by the US and the EU on an ambitious project, dubbed “the biggest trade pact of all time”. This pact, known as The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), aims at removing trade barriers between the two blocs in a number of sectors, thereby making it easier to buy and sell goods and services between the EU and the US. Continue reading →

Comments Off on Press Release 01/2013 – New AmCham Board & Priorities for the year

PRESS RELEASE 01/2013

New AmCham Malta Board & Priorities for the year

AmCham Malta recently held its Annual General Meeting during which a new Board was elected. The members of the board are Michael Aquilina Clews – President, James Satariano – Vice-President, Dr. Tanya Sciberras Camilleri – Honorary Secretary, Pierre Attard – Honorary Treasurer while Alfred Cuschieri , Marco Frazier and John Mizzi were elected as members at large. Simon Lee Barberi retains the post of Executive Secretary. Continue reading →

In her first economic policy address since being appointed US Ambassador to Malta, Her Excellency Ms Gina Abercrombie- Winstanley, addressed a numerous gathering of Maltese business people at an event jointly organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Malta and the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Enterprise.The theme of the networking event was “Malta: A geo-strategic partner for US companies to trade in North Africa?’

Abercrombie-Winstanley began her speech by emphasising the already fruitful commercial relationship between both countries, as evidenced by the fact that the United States is Malta’s largest trading partner outside the EU and that, including hotels and franchises, 1 out of every 30 jobs in Malta is linked to US business. She suggested that a fruitful area to explore is the possibility of joint arrangements between U.S. and Maltese firms on projects in Libya, including rebuilding Libya’s infrastructure and the oil industry. “As you know,” the Ambassador stated, “and as we will be explaining to U.S. businesses, Malta provides a stable base for projects and investments in Libya. Malta’s proximity, logistics capability, supply services, aviation and maritime maintenance facilities, and your long relationships with all levels of Libyan business and society should make Malta a very attractive proposition to U.S. entrepreneurs wishing to do business in Libya.”

Ambassador Abercrombie-Winstanley outlined various ways how the U.S. Embassy intends facilitating mutually-beneficial alliances between American and Maltese businesses, through, amongst others, the US Commerce Department – particularly its “Export.gov” page, the U.S. Embassies in Libya, Tunisia and elsewhere, the U.S.-North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity, a private- public partnership led by the U.S. State Department, and by working closely with the Government of Malta and the U.S. Special Representative for Commercial and Business Affairs Lorraine Hariton, who recently visited Malta. However, ultimately, the Ambassador stressed, it is the Maltese entrepreneur’s responsibility to convince their American counterparts about the business opportunities available in the region.

Mr John Huber, on behalf of the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Enterprise, delivered an introductory speech. Mr Huber welcomed the Ambassador to the Chamber’s prestigious headquarters in Valletta and described the Chambers’ functions with particular emphasis on the role of the Internationalisation Unit which assists Maltese companies establish working relationships overseas.

Mr Pierre Attard, President of AmCham Malta, made his concluding remarks highlighting the fact that developments in North Africa are now offering Maltese companies a platform to become ever more relevant amongst their business counterparts in the United States and invited Maltese businesses to seize such a unique opportunity. Malta’s geo-strategic location in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea is the only permanent certainty that exists in the region’s ever-changing social, economic and political realities. Such permanence should be positively capitalised upon to the advantage of Maltese entrepreneurs and the Maltese economy. Mr. Attard expressed AmCham Malta’s willingness to be participative in the US Embassy’s efforts to establish a structured dialogue amongst all interested stakeholders.

The Board of AmCham Malta, had a very cordial and productive meeting with Mr. Richard W. Mills Jr., Charges D’Affairs at the Ambassador’s Residence in Attard, Malta. The two sides exchanged ideas and prospective joint initiative that could be undertaken to increase US – Malta economic ventures. Mr. Thomas Yeager Chief Political, Economic and Commercial Unit was also in attendance.

US – Malta Double Taxation Agreement. What does it mean for Maltese businesses?

The American Chamber of Commerce in Malta, AmCham Malta, in collaboration with the US Embassy in Malta, organised a forum on Wednesday 16th February 2011 entitled US – Malta Double Taxation Agreement. What does it mean for Maltese businesses?AmCham Malta brought together a distinguished panel of speakers to address the forum and give an insight into the technical and business aspects of this Agreement.

AmCham President Pierre Attard making the opening address

The members of the panel were Dr. Antoine Fiott, a leading tax consultant who was a consultant to the core negotiating team, Dr. Juanita Brockdorff, tax services partner at KPMG and Mr. Kenneth Farrugia Chairman of Finance Malta and the Ambassador of the United States of America to Malta, H.E. Douglas W Kmiec. After the presentations, AmCham President Pierre Attard moderated a Q&A session. Questions were taken from the audience of over 60 participants.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Malta, in collaboration with Junior Chamber International Malta (‘JCI Malta’), organised a joint forum entitled ‘The Maltese Economy…what’s next?’, on Thursday 7th October 2010 at the Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.

Five respected professionals from different sectors of the economy, namely Mr Frank Salt from the real estate sector, Mr George Micallef from the tourism sector, Mr William Wait from the manufacturing sector, Dr Trevor Degiorio from the gaming sector and Mr Kenneth Farrugia from the financial services sector were the guest speakers.

The forum kicked off with brief presentations by the respective speakers highlighting the impact of the global economic and financial crisis on the market sectors they represent. This was followed by a panel discussion on the outlook of the different market sectors for the next six to twelve months. The forum was closed off with a Question and Answer session which was open to the floor.

The American Chamber of Commerce in Malta, AmCham Malta, has elected a new Board of Directors following the recent Annual General Meeting. Pierre Attard has been elected as the President of AmCham Malta. He is a Chartered Management Accountant by profession and holds an MBA from Henley Management College. He joined the FedEx Global Partner in Malta in 1996 as a non executive Director and in 1999 he took up the post of Business Development Director and he became Managing Director in 2001. During 2006-2007 he was an advisory board member of the Purple Academy, the Learning and Development Division of FedEx Express EMEA.

The other elected members of the Board are James Satariano Vice President, Anton Tabone Honorary Secretary, Denis Gatt Honorary Treasurer, Alfred Cuschieri, Marco Frazier and Peter Matson are members. The Executive Secretary of the Board is Simon Barberi.